New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-02-21

whole Brazilian people, the system Wouiu "o'
probably, last year. But unfortunately only
q very small portion OF the people-aD0ut
| 1885, 900 out of population Of 10000, 600
have voice in the Government; and these
include nearly all the planters and others inter-
| ested in tho perpetuation of slavery.
Aggressive abolition and bitter pro-slavery
could not exist side by side and mingled
throughout the country without CONFUSING
| the social body. When at length the press and
| people forced the movement into Parliament
| it had attained almost revolutionary strength.
Five or six Ministries " ere routed in quick sue
cession. The Dantas abolition Cabinet was the
| idol of the people for a time, but it was driven
out by political trickery before its scheme OF
| emancipation could be brought to q vote.
| Forced at length, to pass measure OF some
| kind, the pro slavery men resolved to yield rs
little as possible, and the result was the law of
September %, 1885. This law prolones
slavery for thirteen years and gives prepos-
ferrous indemnity to the masters; it keeps the
freedmen in semi-slavery by binding them to
the parish where they have lived as slaves and
compelling then, to let their services; it pun
ishes protection of il-treated blacks; 1t ham,
pers the popular emancipation IN every possible
way and it taxes the whole of Brazil, even
those provinces that have freed all their slave
for the sake of limited number of slave
holders who are mainly gathered in small
portion o. the country. Jose BonifaciO, the
most brilliant of South American orators, char
acterized this law as a scheme for freeing the
masters" Every abolitionlst In the Brazilian
Parliament voted against 1t; there was
universal cry of disgust from the press, and the
people met the new law with Indignation meet
ings and hisses Yet 1t was heralded to tho
orld by the politicians who had carried it
through as philanthropic measure, triumph
for Brazilian civilization.
Perhaps the saddest feature about this
episode has been the attitude Of the Emperor.
He has been regarded az a friend of emancipa
ton, and it was naturally supposed that he
would favor the abolition movement by every
legitimate means. He did, IN fact appear to
uphold the Dantas Ministry; but after 1t fell,
from tinidity or some other unknown motive,
he deserted the cause Of the people and sided
pretty openly with the pro slavery politicians.
AS a result, his name Is execrated to-day by a
multitude Of Brazilians; he is openly attacked
by the journals; and the Republican party,
hardly noticed before has suddenly appeared
The present condition of the Brazilian Par
Lament is entirely anomalous. The Premier
Cotegipe and his friends succeeded in forming
Lower House that would obey them blindly !;
only here and there a young abolitionist lifts
his voice for new legislation, which tho Gov
eminent fatty refuses. But the Senate, the
members of which are elected for life, has been
80 far won over to the aboitionists that ma
jority of three or four can be brought against
the Government on any question that relates
to slavery. This majority is Independent of
the usual party lines, and il contains all that
is best and strongest in Brazilian statesman
ship The result has been n series Of what may
fairly be called votes OF censurc. Coming as
they do from the Upper House, they cannot
route the Ministry; but their moral effect Is
very great. Brazil, at this instant is n muffed
volcano; any chance event may cause the
fires 10 burst forth with a strength that will
certainly sweep the slave system from the
country, but which may also SKATER the Con-
stitution and tho State